The Clearing of Arenal
Trip Start
Aug 26, 2007
1
26
40
Trip End
Jan 05, 2008
Loading Map
La Fortuna,
Costa Rica
Friday, October 19, 2007
1.Breakfast at Doña Chila's Restaurant
2.Carlos and Doña Zoraida
BRIGHT AND EARLYI met Doņa Zoraida a few days after Carolina left back to the US. For the last few weeks she's been a great walking buddy through the steep trails of Piedades. Her son was going to San Carlos for a work trip and they invited me to come along! We left at 5am to start the drive North. We had a typical Gallo Pinto breakfast at a cute restaurant along the way, complete with wood burning stove. Afterward, we stopped in the town of Zarcero, with its perfectly manicured/award-winning gardens. Rumor has it that the Zarcero gardener was offered over $150,000 to work in the US, but he refused as he enjoys his work so much in his own town.
3. The Town of Zarcero en route to Arenal
7. Award Winning Zarcero Gardener
SAN CARLOS
The drive towards Arenal was picture perfect, with green pastures, colorful tropical flowers and the volcano looming in the distance. While Carlos attended his business meeting, Doņa
Zoraida and I went for a walk in the pretty mountainside town. Afterward, we headed back on the road towards the Arenal Volcano.
96. Pisote gets close and personal
91.Arenal finally in view
THE CLEARING OF ARENALWhen we first approached the volcano, it was mostly covered in fog, barely visible above the base. After a few minutes of driving, Carlos found a different spot to watch it from and as if my magic, the fog cleared and the Arenal Volcano was all ours for the viewing and picture taking.
We also drove towards lake Arenal, located a short distance away and enjoyed a delicious drink of coconut water right in the shell! While pulling away from Lake Arenal, a Pisote (Raccoon's Latin American Cousin!) approached the car. He nearly jumped in our car is if he wanted us to take him home with us!
99.Drinking coconut water at Lake Arenal - YUM
98. At Lake Arenal
